Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah
Narrator in the source: عبدالله بن بسر
‘Abdullah ibn Busr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man said: O Messenger of Allah, the legislations of Islam have become too much for me, so inform me of something to hold on to. He said: "Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah."- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Mājah, and Ahmad
- Source entry
- HadeethEnc · 4716 ↗
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ بُسْرٍ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَجُلاً قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ شَرَائِعَ الإِسْلاَمِ قَدْ كَثُرَتْ عَلَيَّ، فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِشَيْءٍ أَتَشَبَّثُ بِهِ، قَالَ: «لاَ يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ».Understand this hadith
A man complained to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that the supererogatory acts of worship had become too much for him and that he could not perform them given his weakness. He, then, asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to guide him to an easy deed that would bring abundant rewards so he could adhere and hold on to it. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised him to keep his tongue moist and moving by remembering Allah Almighty recurrently at all times and in all states by glorifying and praising Him, seeking forgiveness from Him, supplicating Him, etc.
Lessons from the hadith
- The merit of remembering Allah Almighty constantly.
- Facilitating the means of attaining reward is part of Allah's great favor.
- People vary in terms of their share of righteousness and goodness.
- Remembering Allah frequently by the tongue, through Tasbīh (glorification of Allah), Tahmīd (praising Allah), Tahlīl (declaring the oneness of Allah), and Takbīr (proclaiming the greatness of Allah), besides other forms of Dhikr, along with the agreement of the heart, can replace many of the supererogatory acts of worship.
- The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was so considerate in dealing with the questioners, as he would answer each in the way that was suitable for him.
References (original Arabic)
سنن الترمذي (5/ 388) (3375). سنن ابن ماجه (4/ 707) (3793). مسند أحمد (29/ 226) (17680). جامع العلوم والحكم في شرح خمسين حديثا من جوامع الكلم، لابن رجب الحنبلي (2/ 510). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (ص104). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، للنووي وابن رجب (ص154). الأحاديث الأربعون النووية وعليها الشرح الموجز المفيد، لعبد الله بن صالح المحسن (ص93).